Archive for the ‘Proposals + Rings’ Category

It’s safe to say this groom-to-be set the bar ridiculously high for his friends. (Good luck topping this one, gents!) Brett Arnold surprised his girlfriend with an incredible scavenger hunt that spanned the globe, resulting in one amazing proposal story for the travel-loving couple. Check out how he pulled it off here.

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See any other impressive proposals recently? Tell as about them in the comments below.

The pressure’s on. Your girlfriend has already been pinning this wedding and the proposal hasn’t even happened yet. Then there are all those YouTube proposal videos she’s mentioned. You want to live up to her hopes, but how should you film the big question to share with her friends and family later? Here a few tips to get the engagement kicked off in high gear.

Location, Location, Location

Keep in mind where you’ll be proposing, so you have your personal paparazzi in the right spot. In this video, Lawrence proposed in a helicopter. As family and friends waited on the beach, he had the pilot set up a GoPro on the dashboard and the rest is history. Read more about their proposal story here.

Pro tip: Try to include video from as many angles as possible (including friends’ smartphones) when proposing at a gorgeous location. You can cut it all together later.

Line Up Your Paparazzi

In this video, Kwaku told Kiana that they were going to the beach with friends to practice shooting sunset shots with her brand new camera. Of course, her friend convinced Kiana that she needed to borrow the camera to get some shots of Kiana (and so she could record the proposal)! Read more about their proposal story here.

Pro tip: Make sure to hold the camera sideways to avoid the black bars.

Know Your Equipment

Whether you film on a GoPro, DSLR or smartphone, it’s important to understand your equipment. Some things to look out for:

- Don’t put your hand over the microphone.

- Hold the camera/phone with two hands to get a steady shot.

- Unless you want a silhouette shot, make sure the light is in front of the proposal. If it’s behind the couple, they’ll appear in darkness.

Editing the Video

James proposed at his firehouse during a special banquet. One of his buddies filmed the proposal from the audience. Even the city mayor was in on this special presentation! See the full proposal story here. Jennifer also used the proposal video clip in her highlight video of the wedding.

Pro tips for editing:

Try to keep the video under 3 minutes, so more of your friends and family will watch it.

- Photos look great with video and can tell more of the story in a shorter time period.

- If possible, include scenes from when you were dating all the way through the proposal in one short video.

- Get photos and full resolution video clips from your friends’ phones. Low-resolution videos (such as those from texts, emails, or many photo apps) will make you look like a Lego mini-figure in an edited video.

For your proposal video, line up your paparazzi and equipment ahead of time, know where they’ll stand, and the rest should work itself out. Oh, and don’t forget the ring!

Have questions about editing it together later? We’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

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About the author: Ariane Fisher is the Co-founder of Storymix Media. Their wedding video app WeddingMix is a fun way to crowdsource photos & videos from your friends into an edited wedding video. She is a regular contributor to Huffington Post and has been selected as a top 10 Emerging Entrepreneur of 2014 from Entrepreneur Magazine. Her great loves are bourbon, chocolate, and hockey. She is mom to 6, yes 6 kids. It’s loud.

The holidays are one of the most popular times of the year for engagements. In fact, there may be no time of year as perfect for popping the question. The crisp air, the beauty of falling snow and the twinkling lights provide the most romantic backdrop for a proposal. And it’s also usually a time when families get together, making the engagement announcement memorable. But even the most creative holiday proposal can be derailed by an engagement ring that doesn’t “wow” her.

These days, according to The Knot, almost 2/3 of brides are involved in some way with the ring purchase, but her focus is aimed primarily on the style of the ring. There are two more elements that you need to think about when choosing a ring so it will have visual appeal and be emotionally charged: quality and meaning.

1/2 ct Halo Diamond Engagement Ring from LVE

To ensure quality in any product, it’s always wise to seek out a trusted leader in any field. This is even more vital when it comes to something as important as a diamond engagement ring. One of those leaders is LVE™ Diamonds, a part of Schachter & Co, the leading producer of fine diamonds in the world . The company’s founder, Leo Schachter, originated some of today’s most popular and brightest diamond cuts. As a testimony to this precision, each LVE round-brilliant diamond is certified by the American Gem Society, as “AGS Triple Zero”, the highest grade for cut, polish and symmetry. LVE fancy shape diamonds are accompanied by a GIA report supporting their quality.

Every piece of LVE beautifully designed diamond jewelry is the culmination of passion and craftsmanship, achieved with the experience of four generations of artisans. When it comes to symbolizing meaning in an engagement ring or wedding band, LVE designs include an iconic thread, the symbol of the brand. This proprietary design element is something you will not find in any other piece of jewelry and it represents a couple’s unique voyage together.

Solitaire Diamond Engagement Ring from LVE

For the most romantic backdrop for your proposal, think about the holidays. If you want her to have a sparkling engagement ring of impeccable quality that wows, look no further than LVE Diamonds. To see a full selection of styles visit http://www.lvediamonds.com.

About the author: Michael O’Connor is one of America’s leading voices on jewelry, style and accessories and has become the “go-to” resource for editors and producers seeking information on current trends and celebrity information. O’Connor as been involved in the luxury, jewelry and fashion industries in a career that spans over 25 years. Connect with Michael on Facebook and Twitter.

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Is proposing during the holidays a good idea? Tell us why or why not in the comment section below.

As many men can attest, the diamond buying process can be pretty daunting, to say the least. With so much information (and misinformation) out there, it can be tough to cut through the clutter and find the best tips to really prepare you for this major life purchase: her engagement ring.

That’s where Beyond 4Cs comes in. Created by a GIA diamond graduate, the informational website walks readers through every important step of the diamond buying process, including the four Cs and why they’re so vital, how diamonds are graded, the different diamond shapes available (such as the popular cushion cuts), major jeweler reviews and guides, and even how to properly care for diamonds.

Education is key, especially when it comes to a purchase as important as this one. If you plan on shopping for her engagement ring soon, check out the Beyond 4Cs step-by-step diamond buying guide. It’s a great place to begin your research before you ever set foot inside a jewelry store.

What diamond shape are you planning to purchase? Tell us in the comment section below.

Finding the right wedding band can often be a daunting prospect for many guys who aren’t used to wearing jewelry. Not loving some of the traditional wedding rings you’ve seen out there, grooms? Worried they all look the same or won’t stand up to everyday wear and tear? Relax; today’s post is just for you.

We recently discovered this cool line of camo wedding bands (that’s right, camo!) from Tungsten World. Perfect for members of the military, hunters, outdoorsmen, or anyone looking for a truly unique wedding band, these rings not only look tough, but are made of extra-durable tungsten carbide or cobalt chrome.

The exclusive camouflage patterns of these rugged tungsten rings for men are laser engraved directly onto the rings, which remain smooth and comfortable to wear. Available in 6mm or 8mm widths, the camo wedding bands come in a choice of ring styles including domed, pipe-cut or beveled tungsten and cobalt chrome, to fit your individual taste.

Which one of these wedding bands would you wear on the big day? Tell us in the comment section below.